Saudi FA Bans World Cup Referee ‘For Life’ Over Bribery

The Saudi Football Federation has banned referee Fahad al-Mirdasi for life over bribery, urging FIFA to remove him from the pool of referees for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Mirdasi was suspended after admitting offering to take a bribe to influence the outcome of a match, the federation’s disciplinary and ethics committee said late Tuesday.

The 32-year-old is one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent referees, having earned a FIFA badge in 2011 and officiating at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 and the Confederations Cup in Russia in 2017.

In a statement to AFP, FIFA said it was looking at the case and seeking more information.

“FIFA notes the information that referee Fahad Al Mirdasi has allegedly been banned for life from all football-related activities by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF),” it said.

“FIFA has requested more information from the SAFF before making any further comments.”

Mirdasi was chosen to referee Saudi Arabia’s Kings Cup final between top clubs Al-Faisaly and Al-Ittihad on Saturday but was pulled from the roster just a few hours before the game.

In a statement, the disciplinary and ethics committee said Mirdasi had approached the president of Al-Ittihad asking him for a bribe to enable his team to win.

The case was referred to the Saudi Football Federation, then the General Authority for Sport — the highest sports authority in the kingdom — triggering an administrative investigation.

Mirdasi confessed to the charges, according to the statement, and it was decided “to deprive him from participating in any football activity for life”.

The committee recommended that Saudi Arabia officially request FIFA to remove Mirdasi from the list of referees participating in the 2018 World Cup and suspend him for life.

Mirdasi was one of five Arab referees chosen by FIFA to officiate at the 2018 World Cup.

Olugbenga Ige is an AAUA alumnus. Gbenga loves watching Manchester United play at Old Trafford. When he isn't listening to music, he is watching movies. Gbenga is an experienced reporter at Concise News and a new media enthusiast.